GAME PREDICTION: Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints

GAME PREDICTION: Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints

Saints are going to play the Atlanta Falcons on uh on Sunday in the dome. You know, I um I’m actually this might be the first time all year that I could say I’m excited to watch the Saints play. Oh, okay. Yeah. All right. Like I’m excited to watch to hear this. Well, of course, it’s Saints Falcons, so that’s always going to add a little layer of intrigue. Um, there there’s very unfortunate situation with Atlanta. Like, I would never ever want to see someone get injured, but Michael Pennock’s injury has means now Kirk Cousins is back in the starting lineup. So, it’s a different kind of challenge. uh get a veteran quarterback who who is savvy and I think actually in the immediate short term is a better option than Penn who they’re playing the long game with a guy they took in the top 10 but I think in the immediate short term you have a guy that can still sling it around the yard but no Drake London he is officially out for the game uh for the Atlanta Falcons so Atlanta is down their best receiver by a mile their best receiver but you know Drake London uh excuse I mean, Bejian Robinson is is arguably the best. He’s not even the best season statistically and Jonathan Taylor is. I mean, he’ll be in the running for offensive player of the year, but Bejian Robinson is arguably the the best running back, most talented running back in the NFL. So, I look at this game and I I see two teams that, look, the Saints are 2-8, Falcons are three- seven. Neither team’s good, but we have a dramatically different vibe about New Orleans than the last time we previewed a game. I mean, last time we previewed a game, the Saints were going on the road to Carolina. They had just gotten absolutely housed by the Rams out in LA. The Saints had been atrocious on the road. They lost every road game up until that point in the season by double digits. They’re going to Carolina, who was just coming off a win in Green Bay against Yeah. against the Packers at Lambo. So, there wasn’t a lot of real reason for optimism in that game. The Saints were five, five and a half point underdog on the road against Carolina and they loaded up, did a great job stopping the run, forced Bryce Young to beat him throwing the football, which he was not able to do and the defense played up a really solid game and Tyler Shuck looked awesome. Threw for 280 yards, couple of tuds, protected the football. We saw Chris Ave have a by by a mile the best game of the season. And you go into the buy with a little bit of a feelood in your belly. Like you didn’t spend two weeks stewing on on the long losing streak. Instead, you went into the buy going, “We’re back. We got we got something. We’re back, but do we have something with Tyler Shock?” Yeah. How many more games we got? Well, now you got seven games to play. Okay. And you look at the schedule and you go, “Well, Atlanta’s three and seven. You get to play them twice. Got that one. You get Carolina in the dome. You already beat them. You get the Jets who stink. You get the Titans who stink. You get the Dolphins who stink. I mean, you’re sitting here going all of a sudden playoffs? No, not you’re you’re way you’re way too out of it for that. But the point is like the game at Tampa is your toughest game remaining. But every other game is if the Saints that showed up in Carolina show up is getable. I’m not Look, I’m not saying they’re not going on a run like they’re not going to go win five of their last seven, but could we see them could we see them eclipse their projected win total? Like could they get to five or six? I mean at this point like could they win three or four of their final seven? Could they go three and four or four and three? I mean I think that’s very doable considering the schedule and what we saw against Carolina if that’s the team that shows up. Yeah. The question is is that the team that’s going to show up? And so that’s what I’m going to be really interested to see this week against against Atlanta in the dome. And Atlanta’s coming in coming off a game where they just lost to Carolina and allowed 450 passing yards to Bryce Young. Bryce Young just set a The Panthers are 30th in the NFL. Yeah, that guy stinks. He can’t pass. There’s 32 teams in the NFL. They’re 30th in passing off. Bryce Young for for 450. A franchise record in that game. I mean, I kind of look and go, I’m really excited to see what this looks like with Tyler Shock. Like I’m excited to see another game. And look, it’s the NFL, man. We we just watched Josh Allen and and the Bills get get handled on the road by the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. So, I’m not sitting here trying to tell you that a rookie quarterback is going to go out and be this consistent, you know, performer and perform great week in and week out. There’s going to be es and flows and bumps and in highs and lows, but I am excited to see what Tyler Shuck looks like this week to see coming off a win and open date how they may be able to build on it. So, I’m excited to watch this football game. You know what? I’m going to watch this game. Okay. And I’m excited to watch it, too. This will be my first one. 3:25 Sunday in the dome. The New Orleans Saints are a 2 and 12 point favorite in this football game. that line has moved with Penn’s injury going back to Kirk Cousins has moved toward um uh toward the New Orleans Saints. So, give me a thought. Who who wins? Why? Oh, man. Uh I mean, I think the Falcons are going to win. I don’t think Michael Penn was very good. I think Kirk Cousins is good. Um so, I think the Falcons are going to win this game. Uh and I also like Todd Mccclure a lot. So, that’s another reason why I think the Falcons are going to win this game. Um, is Alba Chimera playing? Is he okay? Saints Saints are healthy. Saints, I mean, this there were yesterday there were 17 Atlanta Falcons on the injury report. The New Orleans Saints, everyone at practice, nobody absent, completely healthy. How many people are on a roster? 53. Oh, man. That’s a lot. That sure is a lot. Yeah. I mean, I’m thinking, honestly, I’m thinking about picking up Kurt Cousins in in my fantasy league cuz I think he’s got I think the Falcons are going to win this. I think he’s going to have a big game. Uh, so yeah, give me Atlanta, but I’m going to watch I mean, after that buildup, you’re going to go with Atlanta. Um, yeah, I’m going to watch the game. You You All year, you’ve not been excited about the Saints and didn’t want to watch any games. This No, I’m going to watch the team. This one you’re you’re excited about it, so I’m going to watch the game for them. actually excited to watch the game. But I don’t think they’re going to win. That’s okay. Um I think the Falcons are going to win, too. Yeah, I know. It’s just Listen, it’s part of it. I think um I hate that. I just also realized I’d be fascinated to see I think Atlanta’s performance last week um which was embarrassing against Carolina. I think a big part of that was they played in Berlin the week before and teams that play overseas struggle coming coming home the next week. I do think Kurt Cousins is a better quarterback today, not long-term today than Michael Penn. Okay. If they had Drake London, I’d be terrified because Kool-Aid McKinstry, I mean, he can’t guard nobody or nothing. He’s He’s just not a number one quarterback. Um, so Drake London being out, I think, is a big benefit. But I also don’t know how the Saints limit Bean Robinson. And while they don’t have great receivers in Atlanta, they do have pass catchers. And Kirk’s going to sling it around. And I think he’s better than the Saints secondary. And the Saints have not shown a consistent ability ability to get a pass rush. Don’t they have the big tight end with the glasses? Where’s the glasses? Are you talking about Algae Crumpler? No. What are you talking about? Uh uh Kyle Kyle Pitts. Yeah. Is he on that team? Kyle Pitts is on that team. Yeah, that guy is good. Kyle Pitts is a great athlete and a great target. He’s a He’s a great athlete. He’s not had a great career. Certainly not warranted of a top 10 pick, but I am um uh I am going to pick Atlanta in this game. I I hate to say it, but I I think I will give the edge to the veteran quarterback. Um, they have a running game. The Saints have not consistently shown the ability to stop the run. And, um, I also don’t think Blake Grippy is any good. And if it comes down to a close game, which which it might, I don’t trust Blake Groupy to go consistently get points. He can’t kick. Um, I hope I’m wrong and I hope we see an awesome performance by Tyler Shuck. And I hope the Saints win the game. I I I’m not one that’s cheering for them to lose because of draft position. I want them to be good and win and Tyler Shuck be awesome and they’re drafting in the top 10 for a a a cornerstone piece that’s not the quarterback so they can build around the I go get the best receiver in the draft to help your quarterback instead of having to draft the quarterback again. I want them to I want them to lose so that I want them to lose for draft position. That’s what I want. I don’t want that. I want them to win because if they’re winning means they’re good. I would rather be good and win than not be good. Yeah. Does that make sense? Yeah. Total sense. I understand it. All right. Hey, thanks so much for watching. Please leave your comments. I love to interact. And be sure to hit the red subscribe button below. After you with that after

After Further Review On Demand is powered by BREC Golf

The Saints are back in the Superdome to face the Atlanta Falcons — and for the first time all season, Matt Moscona says he’s excited to watch this team play. But excitement doesn’t equal confidence.

In this episode, Matt and Ryan Theriot break down every major storyline heading into Saints–Falcons, including:

Key Talking Points
– Why Kirk Cousins starting changes everything for Atlanta
– How losing Drake London impacts the matchup
– Can the Saints slow down Bijan Robinson, one of the NFL’s most explosive RBs?
– Tyler Shough’s big step forward — and whether it can carry over
– Why the Saints’ remaining schedule suddenly looks… manageable?
– How Atlanta just gave up 450 passing yards to Bryce Young
– Why BOTH Matt and the crew still believe the Falcons have the edge
– The Saints’ biggest flaws: pass rush, run defense, and field goal reliability
– What a realistic finish to the Saints’ season looks like

Matt also explains why he wants the Saints to win — and why not everyone agrees.

👍 Like if you’re watching Saints–Falcons!
💬 Drop your score prediction below!
🔔 Subscribe for more Saints breakdowns every week!

Photo Credit: MGN